Livia’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. Was it sudden?”

“Very,” said Pug. “It will be a while before I’m…”

She reached out and touched his hand lightly. Her tone remained bright, but her expression was solicitous. “If I can do anything, please.”

Pug admired her persistence. He sighed. “Someday, I’d like to return and then, perhaps.” He slowly rose. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I shall retire before the…festivities commence.”

“Of course.”

“I look forward to seeing you in the morning,” he said.

“Until then.”

Magnus and Amirantha both had noticed him stand up and were watching. Pug made a slight inclination with his head toward his two companions, indicating they should leave as soon as possible. Jim was deep in conversation with a noble but Pug knew he missed nothing.

Pug retired to his quarters and found wine, sweets, nuts, and cheeses waiting, and sat heavily in a divan before the window. He hadn’t eaten much at the supper, and wasn’t particularly hungry now, but he did feel like a sip of wine. He picked up the carafe and then closed his eyes. He had learned a spell years before, one that would cleanse the wine of any drug designed to incapacitate or poison. He doubted this was necessary if the object of the exercise was to aid a seduction, but caution was the byword on this journey.

A few minutes later Amirantha appeared. Laughing slightly, he said, “You and Magnus get the pretty girls, but I get the scholar who wants to ply me with questions about Muboya!”

“Well, that is logical,” said Pug. “Most people love to talk about their homes and the Quegans view all outside this island as potential enemies.”

“I told him plenty,” said the Warlock, sitting down in a chair on the other side of the room. “Some of it was even true.”

Pug smiled broadly at that one.

Magnus entered and with a raised eyebrow said, “Orgy?”

“It’s a local custom,” said his father.

“Maybe we should come back?” quipped Amirantha.

Both father and son looked at him with a narrow gaze, one of the few times a resemblance was evident. Magnus was tall and pale, while his father was short and dark, but that look was identical.

After a half hour of idle conversation, they decided to retire. As they stood to enter their respective rooms, Amirantha said, “I wonder if Jim stayed.”

Pug smiled. “As ranking noble, it would have been something of a political incident for him to leave.”

Amirantha sighed. “I noticed he did keep that one very pretty serving girl at hand.” Shaking his head slightly, he said, “It’s heroic what that man does for his King.”

Pug chuckled and Magnus laughed as they both closed their doors.

CHAPTER 8

FORTRESS

Sandreena signaled.